Trying something new… March, 2021
I’m going to try something a little different this month instead of the usual blog post and do a February/March round up!
If you like it, please let me know - maybe it will become a regular thing each month or quarterly, only time will tell.
Feel free to read and flip along with the images below to see a few snippets of life in this neck of the woods…
This creative business turned one!
You heard that right, on February 22nd, this creative business celebrated it’s first birthday! The date came around quickly, I nearly forgot. But what a year it’s been to hop into business for myself, especially when it ended up being the year we just had. I have had the opportunity to learn a lot, to grow professionally, to connect with so many of you and am proud to be hanging on so many walls around the world. I am working on finding more balance this year so that I can bring you exciting new products, and of course will continue to hussle my butt to find new spots and take incredible photos for you.
Speaking of which, I did drop a handful of new images in the print shop just a week ago, if you haven’t had a chance to check them out, head here!
5-day Lockdown
Mid-February we entered a short, 5-day stage 4 [2 hours out of the house to exercise, stay within 5kms of our home, 1 person out for essentials once a day] mini-lockdown. It’s gotten a lot easier to recognise to simply make the most of it when we head into a lockdown, and so we did just that. For me, it meant I had time to edit photos, update the website, work on a lot of sewing projects, and have been learning how to punch needle [check out my first finished piece in the pictures below]. I still had my full time job to keep me busy during the day, and made sure to get out for exercise every day. It went by quickly and I’m grateful for our ability to stay entertained no matter what!
Exploring Traralgon
A few of our beautiful friends have recently made the move to Traralgon. A new journey for our mates and their two little lads, and the perfect excuse for a little weekend road trip. Which included a swim at a lake [I can’t remember the last time I went for a swim in a lake], a cruise through the Terra Bulga National Park which is beautiful… With two little boys who’d prefer to keep moving it certainly set a different pace for this photographer who more often than not, ends up sidetracked. Hopefully our first trip of many!
Lou started recruits!
The time finally came and Lou started her journey as a recruit firefighter on March 2nd. I was allowed to attend an evening induction to see where she would be training, what’d they’d be doing and essentially what her life would be about until her graduation. With this new career, it also brings a new kind of shift in our home dynamics - 4 on, 4 off. During her 4 days on, she stays in the city, which means I have a lot more alone time and am trying to make the most of it with Creative business work, as well as sewing, painting and punch needle, as well as getting my butt outside and remaining active… This is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to see where this incredible opportunity takes her!
Warburton Trail Festival
Hmm… I’d written this title ahead of time so that I wouldn’t forget to write about the festival, well, I got food poisoning the day before and needless to say, we didn’t make it [this year]! Instead, I rested up and then we both did our own thing down here on the Peninsula. I dropped Lou off for a 26km run along the Two Bays Trail at 7am and headed off for a 7km run of my own. The morning was full, starting with an incredible sunrise, followed by dense, thick fog and a light drizzle, countless kangaroos who were still having breakfast, and were very unimpressed to be disrupted by me. Classic morning run in Australia!
Gifts from Home
You’ve probably seen me mention somewhere that I am getting homesick. I was due to go home in 2019, but that was delayed because my visa didn’t come through in time. No worries, I’ll be home in the Canadian summer of 2020, well little did I know that COVID had very different plans for all of us. To soften the feels, my Mum and sister both sent me care packages from home this month, how spoiled. So I find myself sitting here in new fuzzy pajama pants that say Merry Grinchmas all over, eating Cap’N Crunch from my sister, and admiring some beautiful Christmas mice and indigo fabric that my Mum sent. I love you all, and I cannot wait to get my butt home as soon as it’s possible…
Celebrated our 11th anniversary!
On March 13th, Lou and I rang in our 11th anniversary. 11 years together… Neither of us are sure how time managed to move so quickly, but these past years, with this incredible partner, have been everything I could have hoped for and more. She’s helped me move mountains, to look into the deepest parts of myself, explore creative depths I never knew I had and countless other things that have only helped to make me a better person. I can only hope that I’ve done half of the good she’s done for me, for her. Thank you Lou, for your kind soul and beautiful heart. From always bringing a smile and making me appreciate each day. The world is a better place, because you’re a part of it… Happy anniversary my love, thank you for choosing me every, single, day.
[side note: someone asked me what we did for our anniversary, Lou was on her last day of her 4-on, so she came home late and we ate beans on toast. Very romantic… ha. ha.]
Well, I am going to wrap up this journal entry now, I hope you enjoyed this new format and I would love to hear your thoughts - the positive, the negative, I’m happy to hear it all. Leave some feedback in the comments below.
I hope wherever you are, that life is treating you well. See you back again soon!
